Big boys can tie their shoes

 

 

 

 

I guess he is officially ready for kindergarten now.  He knows and can write his ABC's, can count to 30, walk in line, and, now, tie his shoes.  Watch out world! My boy is growing up!  BTW, he says, "My favorite part is the loop part, Mom."

From me to you....

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

Book Club catch-up

I know it has been a long time since I posted a substantial post.  However, my plan for this post is not for family memories.  Really, this post is to help me and my book club mates remember the books we've read.   The unfortunate part is that I've been meaning to do this but haven't for 2-1/2 years.  That's should be about 30 books that I haven't blog about but lucky for you, I think we've read 22 books in that time.  I guess I will give my 2¢ worth too, just that it might be interesting to those that are reading....

Before You Know Kindness / Beth M's pick for Aug 2009
   A book about family dysfunction... an interesting read.
The No1 Ladies Detective Agency / Candy's pick for Sept 2009
   Set in Botswana, a woman opens a detective agency.  Entertaining.
The Dive From Clausen's Pier / Korrie's pick for Oct/Nov 2009
   A boy engaged to be married becomes a paraplegic after diving from a pier.  This book follows the boy's fiance and her crisis that follows.  This one got me thinking about relationships and the foundation of good decisions.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society / Jill's pick for Dec 2009
   Great Book!  Set on an remote British island that was occupied during WWII by Gestapo troops, this book was about life while in survival mode written as letters between the characters.
Out Stealing Horses / Melissa's pick for Jan 2010
   A poetic book about childhood trauma and the lives that follow.
The Wednesday Letters / Candy's pick for Feb/Mar 2010
   A groom writes his wife a letter every Wednesday for 39 year of marriage.  A wonderful book giving life to the ups and downs of marriage.
Breakfast With Buddha / Korrie's pick for Apr/May 2010
    I remember this book fondly but don't think I would recommend it - maybe 3 stars?
Never Let Me Go / Melissa's pick for Jun/Jul 2010
    Fascinating book.  Brings your thoughts on the value of life to the forefront.
The Devil in the White City / Beth P's pick for Aug 2010
    Didn't finish this book.... unfortunately, I couldn't get the pages to turn fast enough for me.
The Time Traveler's Wife / Candy's pick for Sept/Oct 2010
    Loved this book!  It had enough twists, turns, and flips of time to keep me absolutely enthralled!
The Help / Beth M's pick for Dec 2010
    This book was so interesting to read.  It highlighted the time in American history that I am most shamed of and this book made me squirm in my seat.
The Broken Cord / Beth M's pick for Feb 2011
     An interesting book about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, its research, and its effects on one family.  It is potentially so much more debilitating than I thought!
Patty Jane's House of Curl / Melissa's pick for Mar 2011
    What would you do when family is falling apart?  This ones about that and how they all pull together to make it work.
How to Bake a Perfect Life / Jill's pick for Apr 2011
    A woman's life is unraveling but she finds what is most important through some poignant relationships that come to unexpectedly.
Memoirs of a Geisha / Candy's pick for May 2011
    A fictional book written as a memoir.  This one was very entertaining and eye-opening to some of the Japan's customs.
Firefly Lane / Korrie's pick for June 2011
     A lifelong friendship goes through all the ups and downs together.  A very emotional read.
One Thousand Gifts / Beth M's pick for July 2011
     This book is better in small chunks.  I didn't finish it in the allotted month but did eventually.  Finding gratitude and gratefulness to our God in this time and place, the present, is a life-changing challenge.

August 2011 - we went to see the newly released movie The Help.  I thought the movie did a pretty good job of portraying the book.  I recommend it.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Melissa's pick for Oct 2011
   A popular book that my Grandpa loved - so I knew I had to read it.  An unlikely pair, an eclectic woman and a man on a mission, pair up to solve a missing woman's disappearance. I like the mystery aspect and found this to be a great read.
Mudbound / Jill's pick for Nov 2011
   A book set in 1940's Mississippi about two families and their "crosses to bear" - woman, man, black, and white, all with prejudices and we watch as the consequences unfold.  Heart-wrenching.
The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict / Beth P's pick for Dec 2011
   Seriously, this book has changed me.  This book attempts to explain internal anxiety as a result of rationalizing our self-betraying choices.  Very enlightening and worth reading.
Marley & Me / Candy's pick for Feb 2011
   This is book we will be discussing in a couple of weeks.  It was funny and sad and very well written.  He obviously loved Marley and wanted to celebrate Marley's life with this book. 

Next Up - 1984 by George Orwell

Possible Future Books:
Still Alice
Radio Shangri-La
Sarah's Key

Blue Bear's Adventure

When I was doing some scanning this morning, Blue Bear decided to go on an adventure seeing how the scanner worked. Greyson watched (and learned about the scanner) while praying that Blue Bear would be okay.  Blue Bear returned unscathed and told Greyson all about it. Later, when Greyson and Blue Bear were looking at the pictures, Greyson said, "Mom, when I get older and look at these pictures, I will miss Blue Bear." No worries, boy-o, I can't imagine a life without Blue Bear either.

Christmas 2011

I was so blessed to spend Christmas with my ENTIRE family over Christmas. It was a wonderful time. And isn't this a great looking bunch? Blessed indeed.

Merry Christmas 2011!

Merry Christmas, friends and family! Another year has gone by and another season of celebration has arrived. As a family, we are determined to focus our celebration on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, above all else. The Christmas decorations, packages around our tree, and time we spend with loved ones are a grand celebration of His love and sacrifice for us. Jesus’ birth brought our salvation into human form to save us once and for all – what an incredible God we serve!

This time of year also seems to usher in the desire to review how the year has gone and how the Lord has blessed us.

In January, Madelyn started piano lessons, lost her first tooth and we enjoyed our first homemade snow fort (with the hip deep snowfall we got).

In February, we made birthday bags for the local food shelf for Valentines Day and saw Greyson’s preschool program where he sang and danced with a big voice and smile.

In March, Greyson got his second round of stitches in his forehead after a fall while Melissa turned 35 and accompanied Liz with her bridal entourage to New Orleans (what a Blast!).

In April, we started our seeds for the summer garden, watched tulips peek up at us through the snow, Madelyn lost her second tooth while Greyson got his third set of stitches in his chin, Ben went from shoulder length hair to a crew cut (and donated it to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths), and we roadtripped to Oklahoma for Easter where we met our newest niece/cousin, Kate Elizabeth Pruitt.

In May, it was finally warming up outside, Madelyn finished 1st grade, and we went to Milwaukee to help prepare for my sister’s wedding.

In June, we started out right away with the beautiful wedding of my sister, Liz, and her new husband, Nick Schanz, followed by our annual trip south to Petit Jean where Greyson hiked to Cedar Falls for the first time. It was also a great month of gardens, tea parties, snorkeling in sprinklers, popsicles. We ended the month in Tampa with the Cobb Clan at a second reception for Liz and Nick where Madelyn fell in love with horses.

In July, we camped in the backyard, declared “God is Good!”, and Greyson shed his training wheels and started soccer lessons.

In August, we spent lots of time with Jean and Mickey while they spent the month at a nearby RV park, went to the Minnesota State Fair, Ben turned 35, and Madelyn turned 7.

In September, Madelyn started 2nd grade while Greyson started his last year of preschool, we planted an apple tree in our yard in honor of Greyson, Madelyn had her first horseback lesson, and we went to our first Minnesota Twins game.

In October, Greyson had a LEGO birthday party and for Halloween, Madelyn dressed as Lilo (from Lilo and Stitch) and Greyson dressed as Batman (again!).

In November, it was unusually warm this year and the leaves were beautiful. Liz and Nick came over for a weekend where the kids went bowling for the first time, and Ben and I celebrated our 13th Anniversary eating Japanese hibachi (yum!).

In December, Madelyn attended our annual outing to the Festival of Christmas with us (a annual choir and orchestra progam at a nearby college) and was mesmerized, we got some sledding in after the first snow and before it melted for a our BROWN Christmas, and are looking forward to the time with Melissa’s family for Christmas.

And just some notes about the kids that I don’t want to forget:  Greyson is still Calvin to his Hobbes, Blue Bear. He loves playing with Madelyn until inevitably she starts bossing him, but hates to be alone. He LOVES rock and roll.  Madelyn astounds us with her reading and writing. She definitely has a unique style that keeps us smiling and sighing. She LOVES classical and jazz music.

Now, if you have gotten through all of this, then you must love us! Thank you! And may God touch your heart and life in the coming year!